Meet Keynote Speakers

John O'Brien, President & CEO | Educause

//members.educause.edu/john-obrien-5John O’Brien serves as the president and CEO of EDUCAUSE, a nonprofit association whose mission is to advance higher education through technology innovation. EDUCAUSE serves over 2,000 member colleges, universities, and organizations from 41 countries who themselves collectively serve over 14 million students. He speaks and writes on a variety of topics related to higher education, technology, and the crucial intersection where the two meet. Throughout his career in higher education, John has served as an academic, technology, and institutional leader. He was a faculty leader in instructional technology, a statewide IT project leader, and associate vice chancellor/deputy CIO at the system level. He has been a college provost and president in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, the fourth largest higher education system in the United States with over 375,000 students. Prior to his appointment at EDUCAUSE, he served as the system’s senior vice chancellor of academic and student affairs. 

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Van Williams, VP of IT Services & CIO | UCOP

Van WilliamsVan is the Vice President of Information Technology Services and Chief Information Officer for the University of California’s $40+ billion-dollar enterprise which spans ten campuses and six health care systems.  As UC’s CIO, Van’s serves as the system’s IT leader and chief strategist for the university, collaborating with campus and health CIOs, and other leaders from across the UC system. Additionally, Van oversees UCOP's IT-related strategic priorities, which include enhancing information security, simplifying and consolidating the portfolio of IT services, further developing the data analytics infrastructure, supporting online and hybrid education and advancing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

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Aaron Neinstein, VP of Digital Health | UCSF Health

Aaron NeinsteinAaron Neinstein, MD, is Vice President, Digital Health at University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Health, Senior Director at the UCSF Center for Digital Health Innovation, and Associate Professor of Medicine at UCSF. He has led development and implementation of a wide range of health technology, focusing on improving patient access and experience, as well as new virtual care models. Dr. Neinstein was an inaugural inductee as a Fellow of the American Medical Informatics Association (FAMIA) and is an appointee serving on the United States Health Information Technology Advisory Committee (HITAC).  He is also a practicing Endocrinologist, focused on diabetes care.  He received his Doctor of Medicine from the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California.

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Medell Briggs-Malonson, Chief of Health Equity, Diversity & Inclusion | UCLA Health 

Medell Briggs-MalonsonDr. Medell Briggs-Malonson, MD, MPH, MSHS is the Chief of Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for the UCLA Hospital and Clinic System. She is also an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. In her current role, she is responsible for the implementation and oversight of organizational structures and initiatives that promote inclusivity and equity among UCLA Health staff, patients, and communities. Dr. Briggs-Malonson prides herself in building a culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence. This has led her to become a nationally recognized healthcare improvement advisor, speaker, and best-selling author. She has held several administrative and academic roles throughout her career focused on innovative healthcare system redesign to advance health equity within diverse communities. Dr. Briggs-Malonson has also made great direct contributions to federal legislation aimed at improving health outcomes for marginalized populations. She currently serves as the Co-Chair of the HHS Office of the National Coordinator Health Information Technology Advisory Committee.

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Crystal Cené, CAO for Equity, Diversity & Inclusion | UCSD Health

Crystal CeneDr. Cené is the Chief Administrative Officer for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and the associate Chief Medical Officer for Health Equity at University of California San Diego Health. In this dual, complementary role, she’s focused on creating an equitable, diverse and inclusive environment for students, trainees, faculty, staff and patients. She is also a Professor of Clinical Medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine in the Department of Medicine (Division of General Medicine). Dr. Cené is responsible for the vision, leadership, and strategic direction of UC San Diego Health’s justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives. She partners closely with leaders within the organization to ensure anti-racist, equitable, diverse, and inclusive strategies, programs and policies are implemented across the health system. She brings extensive leadership, research, teaching and clinical experience to her position.

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Courtney Lyles, Associate Professor | UCSF Health

Courtney LylesDr. Lyles is a health services researcher focused on advancing health equity through programmatic work and interventions, as well as infrastructure and asset development. Her work harnesses multi-modal digital health platforms to improve chronic disease management and ultimately reduce disparities in health and healthcare outcomes. Her portfolio spans design and testing, evaluation, and dissemination and implementation, including several large digital health studies in multiple clinical and community settings -- from diabetes, depression, and hypertension treatment and self-management, to community-based health resources and place-based disparities.

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